Though the discussion paper, which was leaked on Thursday, promotes developing a food bowl in Australia’s north, tripling resource exports and boosting the number of tourists, China is not mentioned as part of an Asian country advisory group. This is surprising as China is one of Australia’s biggest resource markets and the second-largest source of tourists to Australia.

But one of the drivers of the paper for the Coalition,
Andrew Robb,
said on Friday it was an early draft and the composition of the committee was still being considered.

“It’s out for consultation and the composition of the committee draft was determined more by proximity than anything else in the initial draft,’’ Mr Robb said.

The move is part of an 11-point 20 year strategic plan, Developing Northern Australia, which includes relocating substantial components of government departments and staff to cities such as Darwin, Cairns and Townsville using relocation and tax incentives.

“In order to realise the vision, the Coalition proposes to invite representatives of a number of Asian partners, such as Singapore, South Korea and Indonesia, on an advisory committee which would allow Australia to maximise partnership opportunities and to expressly acknowledge the valuable insights of our Asian neighbours," it says.

Mr Abbott on Thursday backed away from the plan, saying it was not even a finalised discussion paper, let alone Coalition policy.

Labor described it as “wacky’’, though it received support from several state premiers and the Nationals as well as maverick Queensland MP
Bob Katter
.

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Mr Abbott said there would be no zonal taxation under a Coalition government and said there was no way people would be forcibly relocated from metropolitan areas to northern Australia.

Shadow Treasurer
Joe Hockey
said on Friday the discussion paper laid out a 20-year vision for developing northern Australia and it should be subject to “serious debate’’.

Former foreign minister
Kevin Rudd
said he supported the objective of developing the north but wanted to know where the money would come from.

Under the plan, $800 million in foreign aid money would be diverted to develop health centres, infrastructure would be audited to establish a 15-year list of priority projects and a water infrastructure fund established to develop dams.

Foreign investment policy changes could also be considered for the region.